SKY SPORTS has signed a new deal with the NBA to cover games and programming, for the next three seasons.
Each year Sky Sports will show 48 games, either live or delayed-in-full, from the regular season followed by up to 13 live games from the NBA Playoffs.
Every game of the best-of-seven Finals will then be shown exclusively live in the UK.
In addition, the annual NBA All-Star Game will be played on 20 February in Denver and will feature the biggest names in the NBA. The game will be broadcast exclusively live in the UK.
To support the game coverage Sky Sports will broadcast a weekly magazine show, NBA Action, showcasing the best of the week’s action and providing the inside track on the NBA, every Thursday at 6.30pm on Sky Sports 3.
The new deal starts with coverage of Memphis Grizzlies against Houston Rockets, on Sky Sports Xtra on Saturday 6 November and the game between Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers on Monday 8 November on Sky Sports 3.
British interest in basketball is greater than ever with three British players in the NBA; Londoner Luol Deng of Chicago Bulls, Sussex-born Michael Olowokandi and Ndudi Ebi from Hammersmith of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA basketball can also field some of the biggest superstars in sport including Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
Former coach of the London Towers and presenter of NBA Basketball coverage on Sky Sports Kevin Cadle is looking forward to covering the game on Sky Sports for another three years: ‘NBA basketball is one of the world’s great
sports. It’s got it all – non-stop action with some of the world’s greatest athletes on the court and some of the biggest stars in entertainment watching it.
‘Luol Deng is one of the best and brightest of a new generation of players from the UK to go through the US College system and on to the NBA. He’s seen as a genuine prospect in the USA and if he can hold his own with other young stars of the game like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony then basketball will really take off in the UK.’
‘Sky Sports continues to lead the way in UK sports coverage and we are thrilled to extend our partnership for another three seasons,’ said Heidi Ueberroth, NBA Executive Vice President, Global Media Properties and
Marketing Partnerships. ‘The NBA and basketball in general continues to increase in global popularity and we are pleased Sky will feature NBA programming from the start of the season through to the Finals for the growing number of fans in the UK.’
The games currently scheduled are:
NOVEMBER
Saturday 6 Memphis Grizzlies v Houston Rockets 09:00 & 18:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Monday 8 Toronto Raptors v Portland Trailblazers 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 13 San Antonio Spurs v Miami Heat 09:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Monday 15 Philadelphia 76ers v Orlando Magic 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 20 Boston Celtics v San Antonio Spurs 09:00 & 18:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Monday 22 Toronto Raptors v San Antonio Spurs 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 27 Detroit Pistons v Miami Heat 09:30 & 18:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Sunday 28 LA Clippers v Golden State Warriors 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
DECEMBER
Saturday 4 San Antonio Spurs v Detroit Pistons 09:30 & 18:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Monday 6 Sacramento Kings v Boston Celtics 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 11 Minnesota Timberwolves v Sacramento Kings 09:00 & 18:00 Sky
Sports Xtra
Monday 13 Philadelphia 76ers v Milwaukee Bucks 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 18 Houston Rockets v Golden State Warriors 09:30 & 16:30 Sky Sports
Extra / Sky Sports 3
Monday 20 New York Knicks v Utah Jazz 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Saturday 25 San Antonio Spurs v Minnesota Timberwolves 09:00 & 18:00 Sky
Sports Xtra
Monday 27 New York Knicks v Charlotte Bobcats 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports Extra
/ Sky Sports 3
JANUARY
Saturday 1 Utah Jazz v Sacramento Kings 09:00 & 19:00 Sky Sports Xtra
Monday 3 LA Clippers v Philadelphia 76ers 17:00 & 23:00 Sky Sports Xtra
FEBRUARY
Sunday 20 2005 NBA ALL STAR GAME LIVE 0130 tbc
For further information please contact:
Sky Sports – Julian Sheldon on 0207 800 4254
NBA Europe – Jennie Brice on 00331 5353 6208